STATE SEN. PERALTA DEMANDS GOP CANDIDATES FOR GOV PLEDGE NEVER TO IMPOSE ARIZONA-STYLE IMMIGRATION LAW IN NEW YORK‏

State Senator Jose Peralta is calling on Republican candidates for Governor Rick Lazio and Steve Levy to sign his pledge stating they will never push for or sign an immigration law similar to the one signed in to law last week by the Governor of Arizona. Neither of the GOP candidates has made a concrete statement addressing the controversial Arizona immigration law, leaving open the possibility they would actually support imposing a similar law in New York if either were elected governor. Peralta said that even some of the most conservative Republicans in the country have spoken out against the Arizona law.

Peralta said “When you’re to the right of Tom Tancredo on immigration, that’s not being a conservative, that’s being on the fringe. The Arizona immigration law strikes a blow against freedom and liberty not just for immigrants, but for all the people of the United States. New Yorkers are disgusted by this law and all our elected leaders should be too. We need to make absolutely sure that in New York, a state that celebrates our immigrant communities and takes pride in our diversity, we are never subjected to a similar rule of law. This pledge is common sense for anyone seeking elected office in the state of New York.”

In the days since the controversial proposal that said immigrants unable to produce documents showing they are allowed to be in the U.S. would be arrested and jailed for up to six months was signed in to law, neither Lazio nor Levy has said they would oppose a similar policy for New York, with Levy going as far to say that parts of the bill are “very rational”.

Even some of most conservative members of the national GOP have spoken out against the Arizona law. Among the critics are Former Florida Governor

Below is a copy of the pledge state Senator Peralta sent today to the Rick Lazio and Steve Levy:

New York is a state that takes pride in our diversity and opens its arms to people of all races, colors, and creeds. Immigrants are a proud part of the fabric of New York’s history and our future.

As such, I pledge that, should I be elected governor, I will never to push for nor sign any law related to immigration similar to the law signed by Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona. Under this law, immigrants unable to produce documents showing they are allowed to be in the U.S. could be arrested, jailed for up to six months and fined $2,500. In addition, if someone is found to be in the State of Arizona illegally, they would be turned over to federal immigration officers. This law, as written and signed, could lead to racial profiling and local police unfairly targeting innocent immigrants and Americans. I oppose it and will oppose any efforts to pass such a law in New York.